Hand truck for handling appliance cartons and the like



Oct. 26, 1965 A. N. DUNCAN 3,214,043

HAND TRUCK FOR HANDLING APPLIANCE CARTONS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 14, 1964 Irw ENTOR ANGELO N. DUNCAN g W W, VJQIGQMW Oct. 26,1965 A. N. DUNCAN 3,214,043

HAND TRUCK FOR HANDLING APPLIANCE CARTONS AND THE LIKE Filed July 14,1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENI'OR ANGELQ N. DUNCAN b w 7%, wwwm A'rws,

United States Patent 3,214,043 HAND TRUCK FOR HANDLING APPLIANCE CARTONSAND THE LIKE Angelo N. Duncan, Bourbounais, Ill., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Geo. D. Roper Corporation, Kaukakee,

11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 14, 1964, Ser. No. 382,522 3Claims. (Cl. 214-374) The present invention relates to hand trucks andmore particularly to a hand truck for handling cartons containing aheavy household appliance requiring display or any other weightymerchandise having a shipping carton.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand truck whichis capable of use in the normal way for wheeled transport of a heavyappliance or the like in a shipping carton and which permits flapsforming the bottom of the carton to be bent back enabling the applianceto engage the floor directly thus permitting the carton to be slippedoif, without damage, for display of the appli ance and retained forlater use. In this connection it is an object to provide a novel handtruck construction which is of equal advantage in removing weightymerchandise from a carton and for reinstalling it in the carton. It is amore detailed object to provide a hand truck for the above purpose whichaifects only the bottom of the carton and which, when the carton isreplaced, gives no visible indication that the carton has been opened.The invention is therefore of particular utility where it is desired tosell, as new, an appliance or other piece of merchandise which has beentemporarily removed from the shipping carton either for inspection orfor display purposes. It is a further object of the invention to providea hand truck construction which may be used for ordinary transport andfor carton removal and reinstallation, which may be used with heavymerchandise of a bulky nature weighing several hundreds of pounds, butwhich may nevertheless be easily and safely operated by one man.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel handtruck construction which may be manufactured at a cost only slightlyexceeding that of a conventional hand truck and which is of simpleconstruction providing a degree of utility which is out of proportion tothe cost.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a hand truck whichmay be used in the original cartoning of bulky items of merchandise on aproduction basis, for example as a final step in a production line.Where the volume justifies the use of more expensive cartoningequipment, the present hand truck may still be used for stand-bypurposes. The hand truck is moreover useful in recoopering, i.e.,package repair or replacement, in warehousing operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the attached detailed description and upon reference to thedrawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hand truck constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 1a is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the upper portion of theframe, and the carton, tilted to a reclining position.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the hand truck shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the hand truck shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the locking mechanism.

FIGS. Sa-Sh are a set of diagrammatic views on a small scale showing atypical sequence used in removing a carton including the securing of thecarton to the truck (FIGS. 5a-5b), the rearward tilt of the truck tohorizon- 3,214,043 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 tal position (FIG. 5c), thefreeing of the bottom and forming of the flaps (FIG. 5d), there-engagement of the bottom by the blade of the truck (FIG. Se),restoring to vertical position (FIG. 5 and the freeing of the carton(FIGS. Sg-Sh).

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to be limited tothe embodiment but intend to cover the various modifications andalternative and equivalent constructions included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

Turning to the drawings, a hand truck 10 constructed in accordance withthe present invention has a frame including an upper portion 11 andlower portion 12. The frame is of flat rectangular shape, the upperportion in the present instance having side members 13, 14 terminatingin angularly bent handles 15, 16 and joined by rigidly welded-in-placecross members 17, 18. The bottom portion of the frame includes a pair ofside members 21, 22 bridged by a cross member 23 and secured at theirlower ends by a blade 25 which extends horizontally close to the floorwhen the frame is in upright position.

For transport, the lower portion of the frame is provided with wheels31, 32 mounted on an axle 33, the axle being supported at its ends bytriangular brackets 35, 36 welded or otherwise secured to the sidemembers 21, 22 respectively.

Assuming that the portions 11, 12 of the frame are maintained rigid withone another, it will be apparent that the truck as thus far describedmay be used in the normal way, with the blade 25 being crowded under acarton following which the frame may be rocked backwardly about thewheels for trundling between one location and another.

In accordance with the present invention the upper and lower portions ofthe frame are horizontally hinged together with means being provided forembraceably securing the carton to the upper portion of the frame andwith the hinge axis being sufficiently high off the floor so that whenthe truck is rocked to horizontal position followed by downward swingingof the lower portion of the frame, the bottom of the carton is left freeof the floor in a jutting out position. This permits the flaps formingthe bottom of the carton to be swung out of the Way alongside of thecarton so that when the lower portion of the frame is swung back to itsnormal operating position, and the truck restored to vertical position,the carton may be slipped vertically clear. Hinging in the presentinstance is obtained by providing collars 37, 38 rigidly welded orotherwise secured to the lower ends of the side members 13, 14 and withthe collars being in alinement and telescoped over the top member 23 ofthe lower portion of the frame.

For the purpose of locking the upper and lower portions of the framerigidly together for ordinary transport or tilting while allowing thelower portion of the frame to be swung clear of the bottom of thecarton, an arm 40 is provided which lies substantially in the plane ofthe lower portion of the frame but which is offset laterally to clearthe side of the carton. In the present instance the arm 40 is secured toan outboard extension 23a of the member 23. For the purpose of couplingthe upper end of the arm to the upper portion of the frame, atransversely extending member 41 is provided having an outboardextension 41a which intersects the arm. To se cure the two memberstogether, the arm is equipped with a slidable ferrule 42 having aretaining book 43. Thus, turning to FIG. 4, when the ferrule lockingmember 42 is in its lowered, gravity biased position, the hook 43thereon holds the extension 41a of the member 41 captive so that the twoportions of the frame are rigidly braced with respect to one anotherforming a frame which is for practical purposes flat and continuous.However, when the locking ferrule is slipped upwardly into the dottedposition shown in FIG. 4, the extension 41a is released thereby enablingthe lower portion of the frame to be swung relative to the upper.

The utility of this arrangement will become apparent upon reviewing thediagrammatic views set forth at Sa-Sh inclusive. As shown in FIG. 5a,with the frame rigid the blade 25 is crowded under the carton C. Theframe is then rocked forwardly through a small angle (FIG. 5b) to seatflatly against the side of the carton and the carton is embracinglysecured to the frame by a belt B. The truck is then rocked rearwardly tothe horizontal position as shown in FIG. 50. Following this the lock isreleased and the lower portion of the frame, carrying the blade, isswung to a position clear of the bottom of the carton, permitting flapsto be formed and bent back along the sides of the carton as shown inFIG. 5d. The lower portion of the frame may be swung upwardly so thatthe blade is again seated under the merchandise in the carton as shownin FIG. 5e, the lock being re-established. The entire truck and cartonare then rocked back into the vertical position as shown in FIG. 5],with the blade in direct contact with the contents and in directsupporting engagement with the appliance. Following this the belt isvreleased and the carton slipped off vertically as shown in FIGS. 5g and5h.

Since the hinge axis is substantially spaced from the floor, by adistance h, in FIG. 1a, which is a practical case will be to inches,depending upon the size of the carton for which the truck is designed,substantial side area is provided for the folding back of the flaps. Theflaps may be those originally used in the assembly of the carton, but inlieu of breaking the glue joint it is preferred to form a new set offlaps of triangular shape by making a pair of diagonal cuts in thebottom of the carton. If desired, the flaps may be held inout-of-the-way position resting against the side walls of the carton byan encircling loop of string. In any event, the carton, which issubstantially unharmed, may be preserved until later required.

For reinstallation of the carton, the above described procedure issimply reversed. That is, the hand truck blade is crowded under theappliance, the carton with the flaps turned back is again slipped overthe appliance following which the carton is strapped to the upperportion of the frame. The truck, with the carton attached, is rockedbackwardly into reclining position, the lock is released, and the lowerportion of the frame is swung downwardly enabling the flaps to berestored to closed position where they may be secured in place by acriss cross of a wide adhesive tape, preferably paper tape gummed, orwith other adhesive, and of the type having longitudinal reinforcingthreads for strength. Alternatively, the triangular-cut flaps may beglued to inner packing. After locking of the lower portion of the frame,the carton and enclosed appliance are rocked back to vertical positionfollowing which the carton may be trundled back into the warehouse or tothe shipping dock.

Since the carton remains in new condition and since the sides and topcontain no evidence that the carton has been opened, the appliance maybe sold as new in spite of the temporary usage for display purposes.This is of particular advantage in discount store operations or the likewhere it is desired to display only the most recent models of themerchandise, where a typical unit is on display for only a short timeand where costs do not permit the making of any substantial discount forfloor samples.

While the invention has been described in connection with removing acarton from a large appliance such as a range, refrigerator, dryer,washing machine or the like for display purposes, this constitutes onlyone of the possible uses of the truck. The truck may be employed forcartoning of heavy pieces of equipment from an assembly line, servingits purpose efiiciently with only a minimum investment in equipment andmanpower. Where production is sufficiently high as to warrant moreexpensive cartoning equipment, trucks of the present design may still beemployed for stand-by purposes in the event of breakdown of theproduction cartoning equipment.

I claim as my invention:

it. A hand truck for handling large cartons containing an appliancerequiring display or other piece of weighty merchandise comprising, incombination, a fiat frame having a lower portion and an upper portion, apair of wheels journaled along the lateral edges of the lower portion toprovide rolling support, the wheels being on a common axis spacedrearwardly from the frame, a pair of laterally spaced handles at theupper end of the frame, a horizontal blade at the lower end of the frameprojecting forwardly along the floor when the frame is in an uprightposition for forcing under the edge of a carton resting on the floor,means embracing the carton for temporarily securing the carton to theupper portion of the frame, a releasable lock for locking the twoportions of the frame rigidly together for wheeled transport of thecarton, the portions of the frame being horizontally hinged togetherabout a hinge axis which is sufficiently high off the floor so that whenthe frame and the carton secured thereto are rocked backwardly into ahorizontal position followed by release of the lock and downwardswinging of the lower portion of the frame, the bottom of the carton isleft free of the floor in a jutting out position so that flaps formingthe bottom of the carton may be swung out of the way alongside the sidesof the carton and so that when the lock is reengaged the bottom of themerchandise may be engaged with the floor directly permitting the cartonto be slipped vertically clear and enabling the carton to be reinstalledupon reversing the procedure.

2. In a hand truck for handling large cartons containing an appliancerequiring display or other piece of weighty merchandise without damageto the carton comprising, in combination, a flat frame having a lowerportion and an upper portion, a pair of wheels journaled along thelateral edges of the lower portion to provide rolling support, thewheels being journaled on a common axis spaced rearwardly from theframe, a pair of laterally spaced handles at the upper end of the frame,a horizontal blade at the lower end of the frame projecting forw ardlyalong the floor when the frame is in upright position for forcing underthe edge of a carton resting on the floor, means embracing the cartonfor temporarily securing the carton to the upper portion of the frame,an arm on the lower portion of the frame and arranged generally in theplane thereof but laterally spaced therefrom, releasable means forlocking the upper end of the arm to the upper portion of the frame forwheeled transport of the carton, the portions of the frame beinghorizontally hinged together about a hinge axis which is sufficientlyhigh off the floor so that when the frame and the carton secured theretoare rocked backwardly into a horizontal position, followed by release ofthe lock and downward swinging of the lower portion of the frame, thebottom of the carton is left free of the floor in a jutting out positionso that flaps forming the bottom of the carton may be swung out of theway alongside the sides of the carton and so that when the lock isreengaged the bottom of the merchandise may be engaged with the floordirectly permitting the carton to be slipped vertically clear andenabling the carton to be reinstalled upon reversing the procedure.

3. A hand truck for handling large cartons containing an appliancerequiring display or other piece of weighty merchandise comprising, incombination, a flat frame having a lower portion and an upper portion, apair of wheels journaled along the lateral edges of the lower portion toprovide rolling support, the Wheels being on a common axis spacedrearwardly from the frame, a pair of laterally spaced handles projectingrearwardly from the upper end of the frame, a horizontal blade at thelower end of the frame projecting forwardly along the floor when theframe is in an upright position for forcing under the edge of a cartonresting on the floor, means embracing the carton for temporarilysecuring the carton to the upper portion of the frame, a releasable lockfor locking the two portions of the frame rigidly together for Wheeledtransport of the carton, the portions of the frame being horizontallyhinged together about a hinge axis Which is sufiiciently high off thefloor so that when the frame and the carton secured thereto are rockedback- Wardly into a horizontal position, followed by release of the lockand downward swinging of the lower portion of the frame, the bottom ofthe carton is left free of the floor in a jutting out position so thatflaps forming the bottom of the carton may be swung out of the way alongside the sides of the carton and so that when the lock is reengaged thebottom of the merchandise may be engaged with the floor directlypermitting the carton to be slipped vertically clear and enabling thecarton to be reinstalled upon reversing the procedure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,102,648 9/63Hughes 214-375 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

2. IN A HAND TRUCK FOR HANDLING LARGE CARTONS CONTAINING AN APPLIANCEREQUIRING DISPLAY OR OTHER PIECE OF WEIGHTY MERCHANDISE WITHOUT DAMAGETO THE CARTON COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FLAT FRAME HAVING A LOWERPORTION AND AN UPPER PORTION, A PAIR OF WHEELS JOURNALED ALONG THELATERAL EDGES OF THE LOWER PORTION TO PROVIDE ROLLING SUPPORT, THEWHEELS BEING JOURNALLED ON A COMMON AXIS SPACED REARWARDLY FROM THEFRAME, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED HANDLES AT THE UPPER END OF THE FRAME,A HORIZONTAL BLADE AT THE LOWER END OF THE FRAME PROJECTING FORWARDLYALONG THE FLOOR WHEN THE FRAME IS IN UPRIGHT POSITION FOR FORCING UNDERTHE EDGE OF A CARTON RESTING ON THE FLOOR, MEANS EMBRACING THE CARTONFOR TEMPORARILY SECURING THE CARTON TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FRAME,AN ARM ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FRAME AND ARRANGED GENERALLY IN THEPLANE THEREOF BUT LATERALLY SPACED THEREFROM, RELEASABLE MEANS FORLOCKING THE UPPER END OF THE ARM TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FRAME FORWHEELED TRANSPORT OF THE CARTON, THE PORTIONS OF THE FRAME BEINGHORIZONTALLY HINGED TOGETHER ABOUT A HINGE AXIS WHICH IS SUFFICIENTLYHIGH OFF THE FLOOR SO THAT WHEN THE FRAME AND THE CARTON SECURED THERETOARE ROCKED BACKWARDLY INTO A HORIZONTAL POSITION, FOLLOWED BY RELEASE OFTHE LOCK AND DOWNWARD SWINGING OF THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FRAME, THEBOTTOM OF THE CARTON IS LEFT FREE OF THE FLOOR IN A JUTTING OUT POSITIONSO THAT FLAPS FORMING THE BOTTOM OF THE CARTON MAY BE SWUNG OUT OF THEWAY ALONGSIDE THE SIDES OF THE CARTON AND SO THAT WHEN THE LOCK ISREENGAGED THE BOTTOM OF THE MERCHANDISE MAY BE ENGAGED WITH THE FLOORDIRECTLY PERMITTING THE CARTON TO BE SLIPPED VERTICALLY CLEAR ANDENABLING THE CARTON TO BE REINSTALLED UPON REVERSING THE PROCEDURE.